Population Ecology and the Effects of Density

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to population ecology, emphasizing definitions and concepts important for understanding population dynamics.

Population Ecology

The branch of ecology that studies populations of organisms, especially the regulation of population size, life history traits, and interactions between species.

Population Density

The number of individuals of a species per unit area, which helps understand the relationship between a population and its resources.

Dispersion

The pattern of spacing among individuals within a population, which can be clumped, uniform, or random.

Demography

The statistical study of populations, including the structure, distribution, and trends in population size and dynamics.

Life Table

An age-specific summary of the survival patterns of a population.

Type I Survivorship Curve

A survivorship curve characterized by low death rates during early and middle life, with a higher death rate in older age groups.

Type II Survivorship Curve

A survivorship curve that shows a constant death rate throughout the organism's life.

Type III Survivorship Curve

A survivorship curve characterized by high death rates early in life, with lower death rates for those that survive.

Exponential Growth

A model of population growth in ideal conditions where the population grows rapidly and exponentially, producing a J-shaped curve.

Logistic Growth

A model of population growth where the per capita rate of increase decreases as the population size approaches carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without being degraded.

K-selection

Selection for life history traits that are sensitive to population density, typically seen in high-density populations near carrying capacity.

R-selection

Selection for traits that maximize reproductive success, often seen in low-density populations with minimal competition.

Density-dependent Regulation

Factors that regulate population growth based on population density, affecting birth and death rates.

Density-independent Regulation

Factors that affect population size but do not depend on the population density, such as weather and natural disasters.